The G.A.T.E. Players and Thousand Oaks Repertory Company present Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing at The Libbey Bowl in Ojai, July 6, 7, 8 and again July 20, 21, and 22, at 7pm. Each performance will begin with an appearance of Jaye Hirsch and the Ojai Madrigal Singers. Much Ado About Nothing directed by Allan Hunt, is set in the Roaring 20s, right after World War I and is a comedy about two sets of lovers, one battling an evil plot, while the other battles with each other. This is one of Shakespeare’s most enduring exuberant comedies, contrasting these two pair of lovers in a witty and suspenseful battle of the sexes.

Attracted to each other, the maddeningly skeptical Beatrice and Benedick are deadlocked in a lively, merry war of words until their friends hatch a plot to unite them. The mutually devoted Hero and Claudio all too quickly fall victims to a plot to part them. Near fatal complications ensue, but with the help of the hilarious Constable Dogberry and his confederates, the lovers are ultimately united.